A gambler defrauded his elderly, sick father, out of more than £40,000 and then hid in a wood for a year in a bid to avoid arrest. 

Ian Wyn Edwards of no fixed abode but who comes from Wrexham, appeared from custody in court today and admitted a fraud charge.

There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody pending sentence at the crown court.

He was said to be "thoroughly ashamed" of his behaviour North East Wales Magistrates' Court heard.


Prosecutor Justin Espie said Edwards had defrauded his 88-year-old dad who had suffered a stroke.

The victim was in hospital for part of the time the fraud took place.

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Edwards had arranged for a debit card from the victim's account to be delivered to the home address where he purported to be.


 

As a result of a gambling addiction he removed £40,800 from the account at different times without the victim's knowledge, Mr Espie said.

It came to light when the victim was in the bank complaining about the  situation - and it became apparent that a withdrawal of money had been made while he was there.


The prosecutor said that Edwards  had been living in the woods for the last 12 months - "we say avoiding the police" - who wanted to arrest him.

Defence solicitor Euros Jones said his client appreciated the serious of the matter: "He has put this matter off for some time. He has been at large for that period of time."

Mold Crown Court
Mold court complex



Mr Jones said that Edwards was "thoroughly ashamed of his actions" and knew he would be sentenced in the crown court.



Edwards pleaded guilty to a charge that between December 5, 2017 and May 22, 2018, that he committed fraud by making false representation that he was entitled to use his father's debit card and made purchases and cash  withdrawals of £40,800.

He was remanded in custody pending sentence at Mold Crown Court on August 8.

A pre-sentence report from the probation service was ordered.